Holy India Travels

Places to Visit  :  Chennai – Tirupati - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry –Chidambaram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai – Rameshwaram – Kanyakumari – Trivandrum – Chennai

Duration of Tour Package  :    12 Nights | 13 Days

Day 01| Arrival at Chennai |

Afternoon/evening arrive at Chennai airport. Overnight stay at hotel in Chennai.

Day 02| Chennai |

Breakfast at hotel. Today Chennai city tour visit Kalakshetra– A school of art and music that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing.

Fort St. George– Fort St George is the name of the first English (later British) fortress in India, founded in 1644. The modern city of Chennai.

St. Mary's Church– The oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises. Sri Parthasarathy Temple– Built by the Pallavas in the 8th century AD.

Kapaleeswarar Temple– Mylapore also an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica.

Evening free to visit Marina Beach &  local markets/bazaar for shopping. Overnight stay at hotel in Chennai.

Day 03 | Chennai - Tirupati (130 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Tirupati. “Tirupati” is a major pilgrimage and cultural city in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the richest pilgrimage cities of any religious faith in the world. Tirupati is famous for Venkateswara Swamy temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.

On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel visit Sri Venkateswara Temple– Sri Venkateswara Temple is one of the ancient and holy temples, which is located at the 7th peak of the Venkata Tirumala Hill. The temple houses an idol of Lord Venkateswara, which is about 8 ft in height. The idol stands under the gold gilded dome, which is known as Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana. The eyes of this idol are covered with a tilak of camphor and are ornamented with some of the precious and semi-precious stones. Overnight stay at hotel in Tirupati. 

Day 04 | Tirupati - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (190 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Mahabalipuram. On the way visit to Kanchipuram.

“Kanchipuram”– It is a famous temple city in the Tamil Nadu. The nickname "The City of Thousand Temples".

Visit Ekambaranathar Temple– Ekambareswarar temple is a hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple is the largest temple in the town of Kanchipuram and is located in the northern part of the town. The temple gopuram (gateway tower) is 59m tall, which is one of the tallest gopurams in India.

The Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple– This is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. It is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty.

Further drive to Mahabalipuram. “Mahabalipuram”– It’s also known as Mamallapuram is a town in Kancheepuram district. It is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE). By the 7th century it was a port city of South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival check-in at hotel.  Overnight stay at hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Day 05 | Mahabalipuram |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram city.

The Shore Temple– The Shore temple (built in 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram. At the time of its creation, the village was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty. As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.

The Cave Temples– Cave temples of Mahabalipuram are located on the hillock of Mahabalipuram town. Also called mandapas or rock-cut caves, they are sanctuaries or temples covered with bas-reliefs. The earliest period of use of these caves as sanctuaries is traced to the Buddhist and Jain periods. They were excavated on rock faces which were cut and then carved using chisel and iron mallet.

The Arjuna's penance (descent of the ganges) is one of the most famous stone carvings at Mahabalipuram. It is an enormous relief made on two massive boulders. One of the biggest open-air rock canvases in the world, the Arjuna's penance is 31m long and 9m high.

Pancha pandava rathas: The five Rathas is a set of magnificent monolithic rock temples.. heroes of Mahabharata with their wife Draupadi which is termed as pancha pandava rathas. Also visit Krishna’s Butterball.  Overnight stay at hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Day 06 | Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100 Kms/ 2 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Pondicherry.  “Pondicherry”– Pondicherry or Puducherry is a city, an urban agglomeration and a municipality in Pondicherry district in the Indian union territory of Puducherry. The city of Pondicherry have recorded history after the advent of the Colonial Powers like the Dutch, Portuguese, English and the French.

On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel start sightseeing tour of Pondicherry city.

Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram– The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community (ashram) established at Pondicherry by Sri Aurobindo on 24 November 1926 (Siddhi Day). At the time there were few disciples staying with Sri Aurobindo.

Matri Mandir– The Matri mandir (Sanskrit for Temple of The Mother) is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga, situated at the centre of Auroville initiated by The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It is called soul of the city and is situated in a large open space called Peace. Matrimandir does not belong to any particular religion or sect.

Promenade Beach– Promenade Beach (or, known as, "Pondicherry Beach") is the popular stretch of beachfront in the city. Along the bay of Bengal. It’s a 1.2-kilometre-long stretch in Pondicherry, starts from War Memorial and end at Dupleix Park on the Goubert Ave.  Overnight stay at hotel in Pondicherry.

Day 07 | Pondicherry - Chidambaram -  Tanjore (175 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Tanjore on the way visit the temple of Lord Natraja at Chidambram. Further drive for Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brihadeeswarar Temple. On arrival, check in at hotel.

After wash & change at hotel visit Brihadeeswarar Temple– The Peruvudaiyar Kovil also known as Periya Kovil, Brihadeeswara Temple, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram at Thanjavur. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".

Thanjavur's royal palace is a mixed bag of ruin and renovation, superb art and random royal paraphernalia.

Overnight stay at hotel in Tanjore.

Day 08 | Tanjore - Trichy -  Madurai (200 Kms/ 4-5 hrs)  |

Breakfast at hotel. Today drive for Madurai. On the visit to Trichy,  Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort– The Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is constructed on a 273-foot high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside the Rockfort, the Uchchi Pillaiyar Koil and the Siva Temple. Geologically the 83 m high rock may date to over one billion years ago.

After visit drive for Madurai. “Madurai”– Madurai known as “Athens of the East”. On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel, start sightseeing tour of Madurai city.

Meenakshi Temple– The Temple has almost become synonymous with the place. This is Madurai's most famous landmark. This 17th century temple has two sanctum Sanctorums: one dedicated to Lord Shiva as Sundareswar ("Lord of Beauty") and the other to Meenakshi, his wife. Meenakshi holds a parrot and bouquet. Meenakshi in Sanskrit means "one who has eyes like a fish".

Also visit Thirumalainayak Palace &  Gandhi Memorial Museum, established in 1959, is a memorial museum for Gandhi located in the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India. Known as Gandhi Museum, it is now one of the five Gandhi Sanghralayas in the country. Overnight stay at hotel in Madurai.

Day 09 | Madurai - Rameshwaram ( 165 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Rameshwaram. “Rameshwaram”– It’s a town and which is located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 50 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

On arrival check in at hotel.  After wash & change visit The Ramanathaswamy Temple– This is one of the most important as well as frequently visited temples in South India. It is believed to have been built in the 17th century. The chief deity in this place of worship is Lord Shiva. It is also greatly revered because it is believed that Lord Rama built this temple himself.

The Five Faced Hanuman Temple– It’s most renowned temple in Rameshwaram. Where Lord Hanuman revealed his five faces. These five faces were that of Lord Hanuman, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Narashima, Lord Hayagriva and Lord Garuda. Overnight stay at hotel in Rameshwaram. 

Day 10 | Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari (300 Kms/ 7 -8 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Kanyakumari. On the way visit Thirucendur temple. “Thiruchendur Murugan” Temple is a Hindu temple complex dedicated to Lord Muruga situated in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also one of the Arupadaiveedu or Six sacred temple complexes of Kaumaram religion. Further drive to Kanyakumari.

“Kanyakumari”– Kanyakumari is a town and a well known Hindu pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu. It’s also popularly known as Cape Camorin and located at the edge of Indian Peninsula.

On arrival check-in at hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Kanyakumari.

Day 11| Kanyakumari |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Kanyakumari city.

Visit Devi Kanya Kumari Temple– Devi Kanya kumari is Shree Bhagavathy in the form of an adolescent girl child. Devi is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra or Shree Baala. She is popularly known as "Bhagavathy" (Durga) or "Devi". The Bhagavathy Temple is located in Cape Kanya Kumari. There by located on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial– The memorial was erected to commemorate the evening of December 25, 1892, when Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari as a pilgrim and swam to the rock in the sea and spent the whole night there in deep meditation. Only after that, he resolved to serve his Motherland and spread the message of Vedanta.

Gandhi Mandapam– It enshrines the spot where the urn containing the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi was kept for public view before immersing its contents in the three seas. Built like an Oriyan temple, the uniqueness in its construction lies in the fact that on October 2nd, Gandhiji's birthday, the sun's rays fall on the place where his ashes were kept.

In the evening see sunset from sunset points. Overnight stay at hotel in Kanyakumari.

Day 12 | Kanyakumari - Trivandrum (100 kms / 2 hrs)

Breakfast at hotel. Today drive to Trivandrum. On arrival check in at hotel, after wash & change at hotel visit  Padmanabha Swami Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu is held sacred by the Hindus from antiquity. The temple has a large complex with a huge Gopuram. It has a tank beside it for ritual bathing.

Rest of the day free for leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Trivandrum.

Day 13 | Trivandrum  Chennai/ Departure |

Breakfast at hotel. Today we will give you flight for Chennai and from Chennai airport you can take your next flight for onward destination.

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